In 2020: Sun illuminates Holy of Holies Shrine in Karnak Temple on Dec. 22

CAIRO – 21 December 2020: In one of the most important astronomical phenomena, the world witnesses the solar alignment phenomenon on the Holy of Holies shrine at Karnak Temple on December 21 of each year.

It is a phenomenon that occurs annually to mark the start of the winter solstice.

It occurs on December 21 of every year except for this year, when the time of occurrence of the phenomenon changes to December 22.

This change occurs every 4 years because of the difference between the number of days in a leap year and a simple year.

This day coincides with the beginning of the germination season of the ancient Egyptians, where the crops sprout, the trees are left, the flowers bloom, and the farmers begin the hard work in the fields after the long flood season in which the cranks were idle.

The phenomenon begins with the sun infirtlating through the eastern gate of the temple, casting its rays on the main axis of the temple and entering the Holy of Holies, which was the location of the statue of the deity Amun.

The sun rays illuminate the Holy of Holies for several minutes, before they are spread inside the holy places at midday.

This day the sun is at the farthest corner from the equator, and perpendicular to the Tropic of Capricorn.

December 21 and 22 are the shortest days during the day, and the longest at night. The sun also illuminates the offering tables set up on the same axis of the temple.

This phenomenon was observed in the nineteenth century, but it did not receive any attention until it was focused on recently by archaeologists.

Luxor Governorate celebrated this astronomical phenomenon for the first time in 2012.